Coronavirus: Pfizer accounts for most jabs and side effects seen in Cyprus (updated)

The majority of side effects reported by people who received an anti-Covid-19 vaccine in Cyprus concern those who received the Pfizer jab, figures presented by the health ministry showed on Tuesday.

Out of the 301 reports investigated until July 12, a total of 217 (72 per cent) were classed as mild or medium and 28 per cent, 84 cases, classed as serious.

The vast majority, 151, came from people who got the Pfizer vaccine. Some 117 of those reported cases were classed as mild or medium, and 34 as serious.

As for AstraZeneca recipients, 88 mild or medium cases were reported and 46 serious ones.

Nine mild or medium cases were reported by those who got Moderna, while four were classed as serious.

Only three reports classed mild or medium were received from people who got the Janssen vaccine.

The data presented corresponds to the number of people who received the respective vaccines as Pfizer accounts for more than half of the vaccinations to date.

According to the ministry’s data, as of July 17 a total of 484,793 people received the first dose of the anti-coronavirus vaccine, while 441,700 were fully vaccinated.

A breakdown per brand shows that Pfizer was the most popular vaccine among Cypriots, with 314,995 having received the first dose and 274,022 fully vaccinated.

Next was AstraZeneca, with 130,221 first doses administered, and 114,816 full vaccination courses.

Moderna came third with 39,577 having received the first dose and 36,842 both doses.

Lastly, the single-shot Janssen vaccine was taken by a total of 16,020 people.

The numbers presented above and the nature of the reports should not be used in comparison with the safety profiles of individual vaccines, as there are several external factors influencing the appearance of possible side effects, the ministry reminded.

The above data will be sent to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for further analysis.

Meanwhile, the health ministry said on Tuesday that a total of 3,268 coronavirus jabs have so far been administered at the walk-in vaccination centres which opened in all districts last Thursday. On Tuesday, 1,119 vaccinations were administered.

There is one such clinic in every district, operating from 8am to 1pm. The health ministry has said it is looking at extending the hours and opening more.